Tarantula in the garden
Look at this: a tarantula in my garden! I’ve never seen one here before, and this hairy fellow had made it all the way up from the lower garden (where I assume he came in from the greenbelt) to the top of the hillside gravel path, near the gate to the front yard. I spotted him yesterday evening while showing my mom around the garden before dinner, and hollered, “Tarantula! Don’t scare him! I’m going to get my camera!”
I dashed inside, the kids dashed out to see it, and when I got back they were all standing around the large spider, which was strangely still and even a little awkward. Oh, he’s dead, I thought. I got a few pictures, and then we poked at him to see if he was dead or not. He didn’t respond, but he didn’t seem quite dead either. Would a tarantula just expire of old age in an exposed space, when it could hide in vegetation all around? That seems unlikely. I began to wonder if he’d been paralyzed by a tarantula hawk wasp. But if so, why hadn’t the wasp dragged her prey away to her burrow?
It remains a mystery. I’ll check on him in a few hours to see if he’s still there.
All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Yes, they are out there even if you don’t see them and the coral snakes, scorpions and other scary things. We have seen several tarantulas even one in the garage and one on David’s leg when he was moving rocks. Always knock out your shoes if you leave them outside. Great scorpion hiding place.
Probably a male, Pam. They don’t live long. Females stay in their bunkers mainly and live much longer. My neighbor has a female for a pet, which her husband found and rescued when construction destroyed her home. She told me about the difference in the male and female lifespan.
Tarantula soup?
Cool!
Neat-o!
Is he dead? Or just playing dead?
I guess he really was dead, Diana. He was still there this afternoon. —Pam
I think it looks like a male….it appears that there are hooks on the front legs (you can kind of see it on the left front leg). I’ve been getting calls about tarantulas being out lately…most likely males out looking for females to mate with.
Pam….SERIOUSLY!??? I think I may have fainted! You are a brave, brave gardener!!!!!! EEK!!!! I feel shaky just looking at your picture. seriously!
What a handsome dude. I hope he wasn’t dead. Maybe he just wanted you to think he was.
Pam, I hope you used a telephoto lens for this shot!
I have been enjoying your “Fling” articles and photographs. Loved the hula-hoop metal work coming down the stairs and your comment about it appearing to be rolling down the hill. Nice to see a stationary feature suggesting movement. Very cool.
Just the regular lens, Jeanette—and I’m aware they can jump. 😮 But he looked pretty dead, poor guy. I’m glad you’re enjoying the Fling posts. I’ll have another one up tomorrow. —Pam
I live in a country where there are very few dangerous creatures and even fewer that are found in the garden. Don’t get me wrong, the hairy black chap is fabulous, but I think I would faint if I found one on me.
Well, so would I, Kerry, if it were on me. Luckily this one was on the path in plain view. —Pam
Gads, that is the thing of my worst nightmares!! Eek!!
Just one? One time, driving on a remote road in southern Colorado towards NM, there were a couple whole groups of many tarantulas, that could be seen for over a mile away. Much scarier looking than their very mellow actualities! Very cool.
Egad…I mean, cool. —Pam
I’ve actually learned to tolerate spiders, not like them mind you, but leave them be. This however would have me running and screaming in the opposite direction….fast.
Oh what a handsome fellow! Love the black velvet legs. The Beau Brummel of spiders!
Isn’t he grand? What a great find, though, I am happy I don’t have them here. We just have Brown Recluse and Black Widows to keep watch to avoid.
Wonder why your tarantula was there and not moving….keep us posted.
I’m sorry to report that he’s dead, Janet. —Pam
if i ever came across one of these…..i would pack-up and move. omg…
The best, best thing about living in Calgary…..NO SPIDERS.
No spiders at all? What eats your pest bugs then? And if you say you don’t have any insect pests, I’m moving to Calgary! —Pam
Awesome. Like the coral snake I found in my garden (also here in Austin), leave it be (of course, this one’s dead already). I try not to think about where that coral’s family are. (And yes, they do have spiders in Calgary, including the brown recluse and black widow, yay! That yay is joking, I’ve been bitten by a recluse, not amused, I wasn’t).
Oh,what a shame that he’s dead. But if he showed up, maybe others will. They are so cool! They’ll never show up on the East side, but I petted one that came to CTG. I dearly hope you get more! Oh, have to say that one day I came out to find a toad completely dead: it looked alive but was dead. Don’t know what happened. I hate days like that! But glad that your kids got to see one “in person.”